Ready for a Superhero Orgy?

Written by Whitney Slightham September 05, 2011

Avengers in the Big Apple

Production stills of the upcoming Whedon film have leaked

In a review of Thor, We Eat Film’s journalist Brent Holmes commented on the act of viewing Marvel origin films and noted that, at times, it “feels like watching the foreplay to the 2012 orgy of superhero movies.” This ‘orgy,’ directed and written by Joss Whedon, will hit the big screen on May 4th, 2012: The Avengers. Before the superhero foursome can be seen in theaters this Spring, however, the cast has been recently captured filming in New York City.

If you don’t know the difference between Red Skull and Hawkeye, you should probably read this breakdown below of the Marvel characters you can expect to see starring in the upcoming superhero thriller.

Who are the Avengers?

1. Hulk

Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, is an ordinary man until he is exposed to gamma radiation. After this exposure, he becomes a creature of liminality. When his blood pressure is normal, he acts and reacts as an ordinary, sensible human being would. As soon as he becomes excited or enraged, however, Bruce transforms into a wild, and nearly unstoppable, beast of destruction. In comparison to the other three Avengers, the Hulk seems to be a bit of a loose cannon. At any given moment, he has the potential to grow five times in size, turn green, and become a monster consumed by rage. The other Avengers will have to find a way to utilize his strengths and harness his impulses while Bruce Banner struggles to control the darkness within. Dun dun dun.

2. Captain America

Enhanced by a scientific serum intended to optimize human strength and agility, Steve Rogers became an organic weapon during the Second World War: Captain America. The Avengers, however, will take place in the modern era. This means that Mr. Rogers, played by Chris Evans, who is accustomed to the 1940s, will have to accept the transformation of social stigmas and learn to work cooperatively with his ideological opposite, Tony Stark.

3. Iron Man

Similarly to Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark is a business tycoon who decides to use some of his wealth for the greater good. In creating a suit that is capable of literal flight, and lots of fight; Stark becomes a force to be reckoned with. With top of the line technological advancements crafted by Stark himself, the billionaire’s impenetrable suit is what gives him the name Iron Man. Played by Robert Downey Jr.

4. Thor

Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, is the powerful Norse god of Thunder. He is banished to Earth from Asgard, the heaven of Norse mythology, when his father, Odin, decides to teach his prideful son some humility. According to the canon, Thor comes to Earth as a crippled doctor and slowly, over the span of many years, comes to know more about his true divine identity – eventually becoming Thor once again. In the recent film, Odin takes his son’s hammer and Thor is cast to Earth via wormhole, with a complete knowledge of his heritage. Either way, all you really need to know about Thor is that he’s a powerful god who carries a hammer and can control thunderstorms.

Who else is in it?

1. Black Widow

After World War II, Natalia Romanov, an orphaned girl, was adopted by the Soviet forces and trained to be a member of the Black Widow: a team of elite female sleeper agents. Practicing as a ballerina to cover her duty as a spy, Natalia (also referred to as Natasha), eventually begins to work for Nick Fury and assists the Avengers in many of their endeavors – retiring before she became a full-fledged member of the team. In the comic book canon, she has a relationship with Hawkeye and he eventually proposes to her. Perhaps there will be a romantic twist between Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, and Hawkeye in the upcoming Avengers film?

In the Iron Man 2 film, Natasha Romanov (alias Natalie Rushman) infiltrates the Stark enterprise by becoming Tony’s personal assistant. From this vantage point, Natasha is able to effectively gather information about Iron Man on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.

2. Nick Fury

Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, is the director of a super-spy agency called S.H.I.E.L.D (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate). When the safety of the world is compromised by the evil notions of a supervillain, or several villains, Fury must assemble a dynamic and powerful team to overcome these forces of darkness: The Avengers.

3. Loki

Loki is Thor’s evil brother, the Norse god of mischief. Loki is expected to return to Earth in the Avengers under the guise of diplomacy and emerge as a politician seeking world peace. Earthlings will marvel at his divine power, and he will finally satisfy the craving for dominance that led to his demise in the Thor origin film. At some point, however, his appetite for sovereignty is still not contented and it may become apparent that his intentions are based on a deep resentment for his stronger brother Thor. Below is Tom Hiddleston recently shot on set in NYC in his Loki costume.

4. Hawkeye

At a young age, orphaned Clint Barton was trained to be a master of archery. Hawkeye will be played by Jeremy Renner who made a cameo appearance in the recent origin movie for Thor (2011).